Antiskid device



Nov. 13, 1934. H a GILLETTE 1,980,265

ANTISKID DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1933 INVENToR. HERBERT B, GILLET-r:

A TTORNEYS.

. ANTISKID DEYICE. Herbert B. Gillette, Eau Claire, Wis., assigner tog.,

Patented Nov. 13, 19h34 Gillette Rubber 'Company,fEau Claire, Wig., a, Ycrlwration of Wisconsin f Application February 2o, 1933, serial No.657,568

1o claims. (o1. 152-14) This invention relates to anti-skid devices ortraction elements foruse in connection with automotive vehicle tires andhas for: its objectto provide such a device of simple construction and 5so made that it may readily be secured' to the tread surface of a tire,ora portion thereof.

The advantages of my present invention from the ,standpoint ofsimplicity, durability and ease of assembly will be brought out indetail as the description of my invention proceeds.

For the purpose of illustration, I append hereto av drawing showing apractical embodiment of myinvention; but it will be understood that I donot. limit myself to the details of construction thereindisclosed. Aswill be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention may beembodied in other forms without sacrificing any of its advantages. andwithout departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in theappended claims; y

In the drawing: .Y

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a fragment of atire having 4theanti-skid. device or traction element of my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section taken substantially on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my anti-skid device or traction element;

Fig. 4 is a View in side elevation of my antiskid device or tractionelement; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig.3.

Referring now to the drawing, reference nu- -meral 10 indicates the sidewall of a tire which is provided upon the tread surface with a pluralityof independent studs or calks l1. It is unnecessary for the purposes ofmy present application to describe in detail the construction of thetire itself. I have chosen for the purposes of illustration in this caseto show a tire which is substantially of the same construction as thatshown in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 644,926, filed November 30,1932.

.f lThe tire described in my said application, and as partially shown inFig. 1 of the drawing hereto attached, includes a tread surface which iscomposed of a plurality of independent separated studs or calks ofconsiderable depth and which,

- therefore, project from the undertread of the tire somewhat like aplurality of separate fingers or gripping elements.

The invention of my present application resides in an anti-skid deviceor traction element which "may be applied to tires such as shown in mysaid 55 co-pending application and to other tires which the treadsurface includes individually separated blocks .or projectionsof rubber.

The anti-skidv device or traction invention is designated in the drawingby the general reference character 12 and comprises an helicallycoiledmetal bar. This bar is shownin element ofsmyV the drawing to besubstantially. triangular in cross-section and while this form of barhasrits particular advantages,v it will be understood that x I do not limitmyself to that exact form.

Theanti-'skid device 12 may be secured to the tire by screwing the sameontooneof'thestuds or calks 11. When. it is so positioned, as will beseen from Fig. 2, the rubber'y of the stud or calkf is compressed orsqueezed'into the vconvolutions` ofthe metal coil, thus assuring'a firmand prac.

position upon the stud or callntheV anti-skid de- Vice is Substantiallyflush with the outer surface of thestud or calk,'or it may projectslightly b; yo'nd the same. y

,tically' permanent attachment. yWhen in nal As will also be seen froman inspection of Fig. i.;

2, the. convolutions` of; the:v device 12 are slightlyseparated-.-iwlien the deViCeis-iniposition,.thus.

providing a yielding coiled spring which is compressed when that portionof the tire contacts with the ground.4

The ends of the coil comprising the device 12 may be tapered or reducedin thickness, as at 13, so that the circumferential edges of the coillie in substantially one plane.

In connection with such a tire asis disclosed in my said co-pendingapplication, it is not necessary that each of the studs or calks beprovided with one of my anti-skid devices in order effectually toprevent skidding or sidewise movement of the tire or to improve itstraction qualities. The anti-skid device may be arranged upon onlycertain of the calks or studs, for example, upon every sixth calk oneach side of the tread surface of the tire. Moreover, the anti-skiddevice may be arranged upon the calks to form any desired pattern, withthe idea in mind that the arrangement shall be such as to effectuallyprevent skidding and also to improve traction.

The anti-skid device of my invention is eX- ceedingly simple inconstruction in that it comprises a single part which, of course, cannotget out of order and which, when attached, will remain permanently inplace. This anti-skid device may be put upon the tire at the factory andremain thereon throughout the life of the tire; that is to say, myanti-skid device is not of the type which is used only during the winterseason and which is removed when road conditions im- ?5 iai-f 9o 95 "ELprove in the-spring and summer. Once put in place, my anti-skid deviceremains on the tire and at all times enhances the wearing qualities aswell as traction.

It will be understood, of course, that anti-skid devices of my inventionmay be made up and sold as separate units to be attachedY by thepurchaser to a tire. Obviously, kthe shape. of` thel device may. bechanged to conform to theshape of the projectionsupon any otheriforxn oftire than that disclosed in this application.

My anti-skid device has proved very successfulf.` in actual use and hasshown that the 4:traction qualities of the tire were materially improvedand that skidding is erectually eliminated;` Moreover, as anadditionaladvantage; the of these anti-skid devices upon this sort oftirez' tends to prolong the life of the tire.

` There are now upon the market a numberoi tires which have'deeply cuttread surfacesland:

which are so arranged as to provide independent separated rubber .blocks`or projections.' An;anti' skid device such as 'that disclosed,inmypresentll' application may with. ease be. constructedito-conformatoany of suchtires.

I claim:

1. An` anti-skid "device and traction elementi' fortiresrcomprising acoiled metal spring adapted. tosurround a projection formed' on thetread;V surface of the tire,.tlie'-coils of said spring beingli.

"arranged toV permit'. portions of said projections tobecompressedtherebetween,A when` the device is. securedtheretof.

2." An anti-skiddeviceand traction element forl tires. comprising. aicoiled metal bar f adapted toi- .be screwed' onto L a proj ectionlformed on a tire,

. andfwhereby portions. of said projection'. will be"A compressedbetween' thel convolutions: of,v said bar.' l f 3-.AnrantiJ-skid.device'andtraction elementfor' tiresicomprisingz a coiled.metal bar of substan,

tially triangular; cross-section. adapted; to.- be: on". the tread;`

screwed on to a projection formed surface'xofi the.r` tire;

4;... Theicombinationj with i aV tire; having: a :tread thereto.

surface composedzlz of; as. plurality of..` individual.l

seatedbetween the convolutions of said device.

6. The combination with a tire having a tread surface comprising apluralityvof individual projections, of anti-,skid devices comprisingmetal -coils-Yac'lapted to be screwed onto certain of saidprojections.v` i

7T. Thecombinationwith a tire having a tread surfacecomprising'aplurality of individual projections,v of anti-skid devicescomprising metal coils surrounding'ce'rtain of said projections, with:portions of: said projections compressed between convolutions of saidcoils.

8. .Atire for :automotive `vehicleshavingatread surfacev composed f. ofAa? plurality of yielding pro-'- coils; and-portions of said projectionsbeingcom-'H pressed between saidcoils.l

jections; some of which' are surrounded' by metali 9. A' tire forautomotive vehicles having avtreadlff surface composed; of`a.plurality.iofr rubber projections, some of-fwhichfaresurrounded'by-coiled? antieskid 4'devices whose convolutions" are.spaced:

apart to permit: portions 'of-said.projectionsiitofl *i be-compressedtherebetween.

10.l` The combination Ywith a tire havnigamradl surface comprisingaplurality ofxprojections'; of?? individualanti-skid devices adaptedtobeisecured.'

to certain of .said projections,. each '.of. said'de vices comprisingyaplurality ofi' spiralcoilstar ranged fin close proximitypandltlierinside. zdiameter: of each of: said. devices being? lesstha-nethei diameter` of said projections,; whereby'. portions? saidcoils when said anti-skid devices arefsecured of said projections willbe compressed between:

, HERBERTB. lf l. 1.129"

